Agree, think Ireland will get their arris handed to them.BaggyTrousers wrote:NO Spiffer he certainly can't, somebody can hand him a 7 shirt but no matter how tight, he'll never fill it. He doesn't strike me as an 8 either I have to say, to lightweight. Heaslip is a relative lightweight for an 8, but he has an ability to cover ground that would make most 7s blush. And 6? Well, he's well down the rankings.Spiffsson wrote:But what backrower would replace Murphy at this stage with TOD already out? Murphy can play all three positions, but is not outstanding in any of them. Someone like Dominic Ryan might have been useful on the squad. Conan is not ready for the RWC. Still think Ireland are missing a trick by not playing Henderson at 6 in a warmup game for a bit of bulk and dog in the backrow.nonplussed wrote:Think Murphy and Fitzgerald may have played themselves out of selection. Earls played well
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I hope you are right about Fitz - but Joe seems to like him for some unknown reason.
The truth is Murphy is a decent player, but he is no more a great player than Quiff, he just provides a versatile option, the New Quiff but not as annoying.
Let me educate the class. Anyone remember Ireland scoring tries for fun against Wales a few weeks back? Guess what the difference was? Go on, tell me. No?
OK here it is, Ireland had a 12 & 13 who can not only score tries themselves but they can both pass a ball. Then you play a Scotland team, worse by a distance than that Welsh selection & you stick D'Arcy at 12 whammo, you have a backline that doesn't move their legs never mind the ball. Stuck in treacle. Today? A guy at 13 who is clueless, there was never any prospect of Ireland moving the ball barring the telegraphed Sexton loop. Fitzgerald had no idea either where he was or the ball was for most of the game.
I question FibberJoe, I question why do you spurn two full warm up matches by making selections that simply mean you have no option to use your backline for anything but kick chasing & today both the kicking & chasing was distinctly average, despite Dave Kearney's best efforts.
I'm not bothered that Sexton was rusty, I am bothered that there has been not a hint of the backs playing rugby since Cardiff, Ireland might just conceivably top the group playing boring conservative kick & chase, SA won the thing in 2007 playing kick & chase against England playing bish & bosh. Ireland should have ambition to be better than quarterfinalists but I doubt that will happen if this is the approach.
Next week, I expect Engand to bludgeon & run rings round Ireland, a chastening experience awaits, you simply can't switch it on & off & Ireland today were lucky even to get within a TMO shout of winning, they deserved nothing from a dismal dismal display.
Cave/ earls worked well, as they''d played together before in the same positions at U20 level. Keet looked decent with Dc inside. That's the beauty of DC, sadly. This seems obvious back up to 12/13 starting with Henshaw and Payne. Cave has therefore played with Keet and Payne in dual positions that WORK . Seems obvious to take both, with Earls also a useful winger. Cave a better 12 than Madigan and 13 than Payne. But I fear Lukewarm will go. Really sad for Caveman #facedoesn't fit.
I've developed a sneaking regard for Keet tbf. Ballsy wee git, even if thick. If DC doesn't make it, hope he does. Darwin forbid its Luke. Shyte on a stick.
